UK hires FSU defensive coordinator as next head coach

Stoops turned Seminoles defense around in 3 years

Kentucky has hired Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops as its new football coach.

The university announced Tuesday that Stoops will replace Joker Phillips, who was fired on Nov. 4. Phillips went 13-24 in three seasons at Kentucky.

The 45-year-old Stoops will be introduced here at a news conference on Sunday. No. 13 Florida State (10-2) plays Georgia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Saturday.

Stoops, brother of Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, has been the Seminoles' defensive coordinator the past three seasons. Florida State's defense was ranked 108th when he took over and he has turned the Seminoles into one of the nation's top defensive teams.

The Seminoles have the nation's second-ranked defense, giving up 249.4 yards per game. Kentucky allowed 391 yards a contest this season.

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